Six wildfires reported on South Island

Firefighters are battling six wildfires that have occurred on the South Island over the last few days. All caused by controlled burns at logging sites.

On Monday, B.C. Wildfire Service sent seven firefighters, 10 forest company workers and two water trucks to a 40-hectare fire burning about 1.5-kilometres inland from Bragg Creek bridge, near Shirley. No structures are at risk, but the fire is causing smoke that can be seen from Victoria, said fire information officer Donna MacPherson.

Over the weekend five smaller fires were reported in an area from Shirley to Port Renfrew. The other fires are at French Holme Creek, East Muir forestry road, Camper Creek Main, San Juan River and Fleet River.

All the fires were started from controlled burns where forest companies burn slash, branches and other forest debris in a designated area, said MacPherson. The wildfires went beyond the perimeters of the provincially-approved fire plan.